Italian Investigators Just Uncovered a Major Russian Election Meddling Plot

[pecosbob]

A new magazine report details a plan to back far-right politics with a Kremlin-owned oil company’s sales.

A bombshell investigation published Friday by Italy’s L’Espresso magazine reveals a plot that might sound familiar. Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini of the hard-right Lega Nord party, L’Espresso reports, last year sought a 3 million euro funding commitment from Kremlin-linked entities to finance his political campaign. The scheme, reportedly organized by a loyal aide and former spokesman to Salvini named Gianluca Savoini, enabled the money to flow to Lega Nord covertly, tucked behind an ordinary-seeming oil export deal between Italian and Russian companies.

There is no clear indication of whether this money ever actually made its way to Salvini and his party, L’Espresso notes. But the tale is yet another example of people or organizations linked to the Kremlin working to advance right-wing politics in a Western nation. In this particular case, the deal, regardless of whether it ever came to fruition, shares elements with President Donald Trump’s Moscow tower initiative—another business negotiation during an election that was carried out by a right-leaning politician’s trusted aide who had or was seeking discussions with Russian officials.

more at https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2019/02/matteo-salvini-russia-italy/

[SunSeeker]

1. K & R for exposure.

[Achilleaze]

2. republicans re-double their efforts to cover up their treasonous russian collusion

You can bet your bottom dollar.

[CousinIT]

3. Are they using the NRA similarly in the US for this purpose?

Maybe other hostile foreign countries too. I'm pretty certain NRA was funneling $$$ to the RNC via NRA - and likely other entities as well.

[onetexan]

4. Great point

In 2020 (God-willing we w have Democratic control of all 3 levers of power) Dems really need to do what they can to label the NRA as a criminal enterprise that supports hate groups and home grown terrorists, and shut it down.

[IronLionZion]

6. Alleged Russian spy Maria Butina pleads guilty to engaging in conspiracy against US

https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/13/politics/maria-butina-guilty-plea/index.html

It described her plan to become an unofficial conduit of communication between Russia and the US, especially through the Republican Party, at a time when the two governments were less willing to negotiate formally. She had also planned to use $125,000 from a Russian billionaire to attend conferences associated with the GOP -- particularly the NRA, which she believed "had influence over" the Republican Party, she admitted.

[Ford_Prefect]

5. Just imagine the similar British connections made to generate the run up to the Brexit Referendum.

...And since then to continue the devolution of the EU to the benefit of ultra-rich Russian Oligarchs.

[luvtheGWN]

8. Indeed.

[LittleGirl]

11. If I recall correctly

they did find a russian link to Brexit.

[Ford_Prefect]

12. "They" did but the information has been largely disregarded by Press and Government alike,

Much as the reports of a sincere and widely held public desire to re-run the Referendum have been discounted or deflected.

The lie is told daily that there may NOT be another vote under law and that the non-binding referendum voted 2 years ago was an immutable statement of the inevitable.

I would not want to be an MP at home when this disaster goes retrograde. It will be very personally hazardous to those who choose now to ignore public 2nd thoughts in light of ministry and professional reports of impending economic doom under any Brexit scheme. The truly sick part of this is the blame falls on the heads of Both sides of the political chasm. The rampant opportunism which Brexit plans by both parties embody represent the worst of political ambition and guile.

[in2herbs]

7. Another clear example of why elections need to be publicly funded and not rely on donations. nt

[oldsoftie]

9. The Russians arent just messing with the US. They will meddle EVERYWHERE.

[Farmer-Rick]

10. Good point

What is it with this short little man in Russia?

Why is he so into disturbing other countries when his own country is on the brink of recession yet again? The poverty in Russia is tremendous and here is little man Putin funneling millions to rich men It must really aggravate the poor Russian who barely has enough to care for his family. Putin should focus on taking care of his own before he starts using the wealth of his nation to manipulate others.

[oldsoftie]

13. He plays on the Russian pride. He thinks showing them a "victory" elsewhere will ease their pain.

They tried it during the cold war. Economics caught up with them. Just like it will again.
Russia doesnt MAKE anything that anyone wants to buy. They're not known for quality at all. they have oil and they have weaponry. Thats it. So Putin or the next version of him HAVE to play on the russian pride to survive.